Automobile-theft-protection device



J. A. WARD. v AUTOMOBILE THEFT PROTECTION DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 1,1919.

Patented Dec. 27, 1921.

ijhlll 'hifi STATES Parana castes.

JOHN A. Wanner wrnxnsenaaim, PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMOBILE-THEFT-PROTECTIQN DEVICE.

object is to provide a protective device comprising audible warning signals together with means 'for'temporarily disabling an automobile, said signals and disabling means depending for operation upon a movement of the vehicle to which said device is'attached. V

The figure in the accompanying drawing is a'viewin vertical section of my device, illustrating among other things the manner which it is attached to the wheel of an automobile, a portion of said wheelcbeing indicated "by broken lines.

WVithreference to the drawing, my device comprises an inner casing, 1, from the base of which extends downwardly a hollow shank, 2. Near the outer extremity of theshank, 2, is a laterally extending flange, 3, having holes, a, formed therein for. the reception of bolts, 5, or the like. The shank, 2, has an extension, 6 below the flange, 8. The casing, 1, in the, present instance, is cylindrical in form and has a dome shaped head, 7 although this head may be flat or of 'any shape' desired. Within thecylindrical chamber, 8, inclosed by the casing, 1, is a loosely fitting piston, 9', attached to which and extending downwardly through the hollow shank, 2, is a plunger, 10, having its-extremity, 11, tapered'to a blunt point. Held in the upper endof the piston, 9, is'a thread ed bolt, 12, which may be removed to permit the addition or removal. of weights, 13, to or from the piston, said weights being held tightly to the piston by means of a removable pin, 14, passing through the'threaded bolt, 12, holes, 1'5, for the reception'of said 60 pin being formed at intervals in said bolt. The arrangement hereis such that the length of the portion of the bolt, 12, extending above the uppersurface of the piston is constant, regardless of the number of weights attached. The piston, 9, is free to move within the casing, 1, andmay assume lower end, 27, extends into the upper part any suitable form, and at 32 and 33, for

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Dee, 27,1921,- Application filed July 1, 1919. 7 Serial No. 397,969.

apositionatthe top of the chamber, 8, as indicated by the broken lines in the drawing, it being retalne'd, if desired, in this position by means of a bolt and wing nut, 16, piv

otally mounted upon the casing, 1, said bolt and nut functioning in conjunction "with an extending hasp member, 17 upon the piston, 9, and being adapted to'be turned up against the casing when not in use, and retained there by a clasp, 18. As indicated at l9, a portion of the sidewall'of'the casing, 1, is remov e'd,thereby giving access to the .interror of the chamber, 8, and allowing for the passage of said hasp, '17. 'surroundingthe inner casing, 1, and the shank, 2, is an outer casing, 20, said outer casingbelng generallyof the same form as the cas1ng,.1, but-larger, whereby-an air space is left between the two casings. The casing, 20, has a laterally extending flange,

'21, at the base 'thereof, saidflange having nent manner to the top of the casing, 20, is'

- a gong, 24:, and arod, 25, extending through the outer casing, '20 and inner casing, 1, has

its upper hammer-shaped head, 26, located in the interiorofthe gong, 24, while the of the chamberB. A sleeve, 28,'is attached to the end, 2' 7,of the rod, 25, and a spring, 29, is interposed between the sleeve, 28, a'n'd the inner surface of the dome, 7, said spring tending to hold the rod, 25, in such position that the ham'mer,.26, does not normally contact with the gong.

. The outer'casing, 20, is further apertured at 3O,f0r the reception of a. whistle,31, of

the reception ofdubricatirig-tubes, 34; and

'35,respectively, said tubes passingthrough apertures 36 andy37 in the inner casing, 1', and providing means for lubricatingthe inner surface of the. casing, 1, from theexterior of the device. Located in'the; side of I the outer casing, 20., opposite the opening, 19,:inthe11nner casing, 1, is a door,'38,' havthe hollow shank, 2, extends into the material of the rim, 39, the fiange,.3, resting upon the inner surface thereof, The bolts, 5, extending through the flange, 3, through the rim, S9, and through the metal rim, 43,

which passes around said rim, 39, are fastened by nuts, 44, or the ends of the bolts I The operation of the device is as follows:

Vlhen the vehicle'to which the device is attached is in actual use, the piston, 9, and

the plunger, 10, are retained in elevated and inoperable position by the bolt and nut, 16, as indicated in the drawing by the broken lines, in which inoperable position the tapered end, 11, of the plunger, 10, does not extend beyond the outer end of the hollow shank, 2. When the 'car is left standing alone, however, the driver releases the bolt, 16, at the, same time turning it up out of the way, and lowers the piston until the tapered end of'the plunger, '10, passing through the apertures in the various rims and between the adjacent edges of the easing, 41,. rests upon the inner inflated tube, 42, access to the piston for'lowering the same being had through the door, 88, and opening, 9, in the inner casing. The tapered end of the plunger, 10, is not so sharp, nor

the weight of the piston, 9, and the plunger,

10, so great as to cause penetration of the inner tube so long as the vehicle is stationary and while the plunger rests idly upon the tube. Should, however, the vehicle be moved while the piston and plunger are in this position it will be apparent that at each revolution of the wheel the piston and'plunger will reciprocate within the casing, and the end of the plunger will impart a sharp blow to the inner tube. By regulating the weight upon the plunger and the sharpness of the end of the plunger, 10, the approximate'number of blows. required for the penetration of the inner tube may be varied as desired, and in this manner the puncture may be made to occur either at the first blow or at some subsequent blow. Should then the vehicle be stolen, the revolution of the wheel setsup a reciprocation of-the plunger, 10," and the piston to which it is attached. As the piston reaches the top of the chamber, 8, the head of the threaded bolt, 12, inpinges upon the lower end of the rod, 25, driving it upward and causing its hammer end, 26, to strike and sound the gong, 24. Following the sounding of the gong at an interval d pending upon thread adjustment of the weights upon the plunger, comes the puncturing of the tire, and the consequent sounding of the whistle by the exhaust air from the tire which passes up through the hollow shank, 2, and out into the space between the inner casing, 1, and the outer casing, 20.

A levice of this character has many advantages. lhe outer casing, 20, may be painted a bright color to attract attention, and the device will then furnish a conspicuous mark of protection. Any tampering with the device will arouse suspicion, since the rightful owner shouldbe in possession of a key, while should a vehicle equipped with this device be observed to have a fiat tire on tires the immediate supposition would be that the car was stolen property. Further marks denoting the fact that a vehicle is equipped with this device may be attached to the radiator and to the rear of the vehicle in conspicuous places, and in this manner one approaching from either front or rear may identify the probable cause of the flat tire. Should, also, the vehicle be left in a garage, with the protective device or devices set, it may still be removed from the garage without difficulty if the necessity should arise, as for instance in case of fire, since the propelling and steering elements are not involved and are left free for use, while should the owner of the vehicle vforget to reset the device to safety, thesounding of the gong may give warning of his failure before the tire is punctured. I

It will be understood that I do not desire to confine myself to the specific construction herein disclosed, since the device is capable of ,many modifications without departure from the essential features of the invention;

1 claim:

1. The combination with a pneumatic tired wheel, of a theft protection device comprising a support structure attached to said wheel, and a member adapted to reciprocate in aid support as the wheel revolves and to deliver a blow to the inner tube of said tire at each reciprocation.

2. The combination with a pneumatictired wheel, of a theft protection device comprising a support structure. attached to said wheel, and'areciprocatory gravity-actuated member mounted in said support and adapted to impart a blow to said tire at each reciprocation of said wheel.

3. in combination with a pneumat1ctired wheel, a theft-protection vdevice comprising acasing mountedonsaid wheel, a plunger mounted in said'casing and adapted to reciprocate therein as the wheel rotates, said plunger imparting a blow to said tire at each reciprocation, and means for. preventing said reciprocating motion of the plunger.- I

4, in combination with a pneumatictired wheel, a theft-protection device comprisinga casing mounted on said wheel, a plunger adapted to reciprocate in said casing with the rotation of the wheel and to impart a blow to said tire at each reciprocation, means for regulating the weight of said plunger, and means for retaining said plunger immovable within the casing.

5. The combination with a pneumatictired wheel, of a theft protection device comprising a support structure attached to said wheel, a gong, and a member adapted to reciprocate in said support as the wheel revolves and to deliver a blow both to said tire and to the gong at each reciprocation.

6. In combination with a pneumatic-tired wheel, a theft protection device comprising a gong mounted upon said wheel, and a reciprocatory member carried by said wheel intermediate the said tire and the gong and adapted to reciprocate as the wheel revolves and to deliver alternate blows to said tire and gong at each complete reciprocation.

7. In combination with a pneumatictired wheel, a theft protection device comprising a casing, a whistle mounted on said casing, a plunger adapted to reciprocate within said casing and adapted to strike the tire at each reciprocation whereby said tire is punctured, and means whereby the exhaust air from said punctured tire is directed into the casing for operating said whistle. V

8. In combination with a pneumatictired' wheel, a theft-protection device comprising a gong, a whistle, means actuated by I the rotation of said wheel for sounding said gong and for puncturing said tire, and means for utilizing the exhaust air from said punctured tire in sounding said whistle.

9. In combination with apneumatic tired wheel, a theft protection device com-v risin a casin mounted on said wheel a plunger adapted to reciprocate in said casing with the rotation of the wheel and to impart a blow to said tire at each reciprocation, means for regulating the force of said blow, and means for retaining the plunger" immovable within the casing.

JOHN A. WARD. 

